“But it wasn’t the money. Like manure, that stuff was better spread around.” That’s a line from near the end of a novel I wrote. It refers to the life-changing infusion of funds won by the book’s heroine, an Iowa farm woman whose dreams collide with a trans lounge singer in Las ...

I’ll admit it; I’ve been a bit “hooked” by the 2024 Olympic Games. Maybe it started back in 1996, when our family went on a grand adventure to the ’96 Atlanta Games. I still vividly remember being on the subway when the chaos in Centennial Park happened. Having to evacuate off the ...

My first non-farm job was at our county seat radio station. In the spring of 1966 Mr. Orton, our school newspaper advisor, introduced me to the radio station owner who offered me a part-time job. While attending junior college I worked part time at the station and that led to a full-time job. ...

Diane and I recently had our second grandchild arrive: our first grandson. The little guy is settling in with his parents in Minneapolis and soon will be meeting his cousin, our granddaughter who lives in Ellsworth. In the meantime, we’re watching our son’s two “fur babies” to lessen ...

My mother was the queen of hospitality and regularly had guests for a meal or a cup of coffee. Of course, she always had homemade baked goods ready to share, too. Mom often quoted an adage about helping angels unaware. She was referring to Hebrews 13:2 in the Bible: “Do not forget to show ...

I needed a haircut. Badly. It’s one of “those things” that I keep putting off; honestly, I have no idea why. Suffice it to say that I finally asked some of the guys at a veteran’s coffee morning and every one sitting at the table said, “Go see Russ.” I did and had a memorable time ...